Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-05-07
AT Home" DR. .ys.

The fashion of AT H. ,me" days 10
gaining favor rapidly " It'll those who
once condemned it as fc rmal and sub
versive of genuine fir iendliness. The
woman who engraves the name of a
certain day. afternoon. or evening, on
her visiting cards as the time when she
is ready and glad to receive calls, says,
in effect, that she appreciates the desire
of her acquaintances to see her; sets too
high q value ON their time and hers to
risk the loss of a visit. She further
more. marks her recognition Of the duty
of hospitality by rcsigning a stated por-
ton of the week to the performance of
the grateful task. Her visitors are never
doubtful as to the chances of inconven-
fencing her Or of finding her within
doors. She belongs. by choice. on that
day to all who will come, and, being
prepared to rcceivs them, will be disap.
pointed if they stay away. Any one,
except a very intimate friend, is guilty,
however unwittingly, of impertinence
in presenting himself ut any other sea-
son unless by especial permission. Peo-
pie who have never taken the pains to
think twice of this view of the subject
have q way of saying, "Lot me call
sometime when l can see more of you-
have you all to myself; l hate reception
days" One must he very sure Of his
WI attractions who thus proposes, un-
invited. to absorb the entire attention,
for even an hour, of an always busy
and useful mistress of a family. If she,
with fullest knowledge of her occupa-
lions and desires, chooses to appoint
tho season for receiving the outer
world, her wishes will be respected by
well-bred acquaintance. 1t argues
presumption and fatuous self-conceit
for II to that he can never be
unwelcome.
The opposite extreme of treating a
guest with too little ceremony. is to
burden him with attention. Some
kindly folk would seem to imagine that
their friends part with individuality as
soon rs the shadow of the hospitable
roof envclops them. The determine
ton to amuse, to feed, to fill them, body
and mind, with entertainment during
every hour Of their s%ojourn is obvious
at every turn. To insist that he whom
you delight to honor shall eat twice as
much as he wants. and does not know
what he prefers to take on his plate,
should see things he cares nothing for;
drive when he would rather walk; sail,
when he abhors aquatic sports from the
depths of an agonized stomach; that he
shall be diverted when he longs to be
alone with his own thoughts for one
precious half-hour of the t%wenty-four
that make up his waking days bene-
VIOLENT torture.
Study your friends likes and procliv-
tiles, addressing your ingenuity to the
attempt to make him happy in his way,
instead of forcing him to feign salts
faction with yours. 1t is quite as posi-
BILE to bore him by giving him a surfeit
of your society as by allowing him to
seek amusement in reading. II he
comes to you tired, let him rest. Should
he be %loquacious, listen while he has his
say. So far from considering you stu
pid because you sit by, attentive and
mute while he turns his heart and brain
inside out, he will DO likely to COM
mend you as the prince of converse
tionalists. The definition of Bore,
Zone who talks so much of himself that
he gives you nj chance to talk of your-
SELF" is one of tho best things that
has been said in this century. See
to it that you ore the bored, rather than
the bore. when the relations are those of
host and visitor HQrland, in
| Good HOuSekeeDiu0.